Direction indicator



Feb. 23, 1932. JOHNSON DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed Feb. 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet HHHUHHI m m VEN TOR /VER UoH/vs o/v BY {41 M ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1932. 1. JOHNSON DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed Feb. 9, 19.31 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT'OR /VER L/OHNSON BY 7312/ h ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 23, 1932 IVER .romvson, or scanner, isnrrrsn conumnm, omens DETECTION INDICATOR Application filed Iebmry 9,'1N1. Serial 10.. 514,392.

My invention relates to improvements in direction indicators for motor cars and the li e.

The objects of the invention are to produce 5 a device capable of displaying a signal in a substantially similar manner to the hand: signal universally approved by traflic authorities; to provide a direction indicator which can be so disposed that no portion of "To the mechanism projects beyond the side frame of the windshield or the body of the car, and

to provide means whereby the directional setting may be done with one operation and the projecting and retracting of the signal may 1 be done by another.

The invention consists of a horizontal tubular member enclosing a signalling element capable of being projected beyond the memher and expandedsubsequent to projection,

' g0 and means for supporting the signal in selective position to indicate right or left turns or stop, as will be more fully described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in 2'5 which Fig. l is a general view of the invention as viewed from the rear.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the signalling element.

30 Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the control mechanism as seen from the underside.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line H of Figure 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the 35 disposition of the parts when the signal is set for a left turn.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing the disposition of the parts when the signal is set for a stop.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary View showing the disposition of the parts when the signal is set for a right turn.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each I The numeral 1 indicates generally a tubular member which is adapted to be set above the windshield of a car having a left hand drive and under the sun visor and to extend to the left to a point substantially parallel with the left post of the shield. This tubular member is open at the left extremity and closed at the right extremity and is fitted intermediate its length with a T generally indicated by the numeral 2. The tubular -me1nher 1 is divided by said T into parts 3 and 4, the part 3 normally enclosing a signalling element generally indicated by the numeral 5..

A rectangular tubular body 6 is endwise slidable, but non-rotatably mounted within the outer end of the part 30f the tubular member 1, which tubular body 6 is provided with side wall extensions 7 between the upper extremities of which a pivot pin 8 is placed to swingingly support the signalling element. The signalling element is formed with a pair of side plates 9 suitablyspaced apart and provided with upper and lower longitudinal slots 10. Pivotally mounted at the outer ends of the side plates 9 are two blades 11, which are mounted on the outerfaces of the plates 9 and are each pivotally connected adjacent their outer edges and their rear extremities to a spreader 12 which in turn is pivotally connectedby a pin 13 to a pushrod 14 slidably mounted within the tubular body 6. The pins 13 of the two spreaders 12 extend through the slots 10 in the side plates 9,

which serve as guides therefor.

It will be noticed that the pivotal points at opposite ends of the Spreaders .12 are disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal centres so that an inward pull on the (pull rod 14 will cause the'outer ends of the Spreaders to swin outwardly and dispose the blades 11 an 1v themselves in the formof an arrow head, thus producing when so disposed a signalling element when displayedof much greater area than when it is confined within th member 1.

e tubular A substantially triangular tumbler 15 hav ing a trigger 16 is rockingly mounted upon a pin 17 and carried between theside plates 9, attached to the tumbler by a pin 18 is the pull rod 14. The tumbler is resiliently retained in either of its two stationary positions by a suitably supported leaf spring 19. The trigger 16 is normally held in contact with the lower side wall of the part 3 of the tubular member 1, which adjacent its outer end is slotted as at 20 so that as the tumbler 15, carried by the side plates 9, is moved outwardly the trigger will drop into the slot 20 and be engaged by the tube as it reaches the outer end of said slot,thus rocking the tumbler into the position shown in Figure"2"and spreading the signalling element into display form as shown therein.

Secured to the innerHend-aof the tubular:

. serves to limit'the outer travel of the sig- 0' are disposedtowards the angular leg of the nalling element as'will be hereinafter described. 'Hingingly connected to the lower inner edge of theside plates: 9 is a cranked link 23 having. a vertical dimension substantially equal to the vertical diameter ofthe tubular member part 3, which is connected at its inner endrto a light rod 24, the rod in turn being'connected to a tension spring 25 anchored in the part 4 ofthe tubular member '1 to withdraw the signalling element into thetube. I

The rod 24 is partly. cut awayjto provide two gaps 26 and 27 respectively which aps T 2. A cord 28-is attached to the inner end of the rod 24 and extends along'the part 4 of the member 1 around a small sheave 29 and outwards through a guide 30 and is fitted with a suitable knob, not sho'wn,for convenience in pulling. The guide 30'is mounted upon a plate 31 hinged as at 32 to a flanged cover33 fitted upon the T1 and is capable of being moved to the dotted line position shown inFigure3, whenv the cord 28 is drawn'to the left. Journalled concentrically in the flanged colver 33 isa horizontal shaft'34 fitted with a lever 35 having a flange 36 which latter is held in contactjwithjthe hinged plate '31 by aspring 37 mounted on the shaft and tending to force it inwards into the T. The

inner endof the shaft 84isi ofisetto form a crank38 capable of being moved by the lever 35 into the three positions shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7. Outhe end of the 'crank38 a disc 39 is fitted, which isconcentric'with the shaft 34 and is journalled in'a step bearing 40 at the baseof the T, the diameter of the disc is equal to the length of the gap 27 of therod 24, so. that the discimay be urged into the gap as the rod is moved endwise to'bring these elements into register. The outer face of the disc is provided with a pair of alignedv radial grooves 41 which define at their inner ends a central stop 42 shown in dotted line in Figures 5, 6, and 7 which is of a diameter equal to the gap 26 in the rod v24, so as to be capable of entering said gap to hold the rod against endwise movement. Extending from the step bearing 40 is a pair of guides 43 in which the inner end of the bar 21 is slidably mounted. i

As the signalling element when indicating a stop as shown in Figure 6 assumes its angular position by gravity, it is desirable to limit its downward movement, I therefore provide a stop 44 onthelower edge of the side plates 9 which engage the side wall extensions 7 endwise movement of the rod in this action is" less than when displaying signals indicating stop or right turn and is insufiicient to project any portion of the trianglar'link 23 beyond the outer end of part 3 of the tubular memberl, so thatthe link is unable to move about its longitudinal axis and the-signalling {element ,5 is projected horizontally "outward a sufficient distance only to permit thetrigger 16 to be swungover to the position shown in Figure, 2 and the signalling element to-be expanded as shown therein. If a signal is to be given indicating a stop, the lever 35 is set in a. vertical position, see Figure 6, thereby setting the aligned grooves 41 at an angle to the rod 24 so that the face of the disc bears against the side of the rod until, on its being moved in response to pulling the cord, the gap 27 comes into register with the disc, which "latter is forced intosaid gap by the spring 37.

The endwise movement of the rod for this signal is greater than that first described, and after the signalling element has; been ex panded permits a'portion of the triangular link 23 to project beyond the outer end ofpart 3 of thetubular member 1,fso thatthe preponderance of weight of the outer extremity of thesignalling element will cause it to rock and point downwards as shown in Figure. 6, and in so doing raise the outer end of the link 23 above the upper level of the tubular'memher, In this case it will be noticed that the latch 22 of the bar 21 is drawn to the telt beyond the crank 38.

If a si na indicatingaturnto the fight is to be made, the'lever 35 is turned in a clockwise direction and the crank 38 is in consequence moved to the left of its axis of rotation and in line with the path of travel of the latch 22 of the bar 21, so that when the rod 241 is drawn to the left by means of the cord, the latch 22 on reaching and engaging the crank 38 arrests the bar and the tubular body 6 at the point shown in Figure 7 and as the rod 24: continues its movement and in view of the thrust through the triangular link being below the pivotal point about which the signalling element is swung, the said element will be swung to point diagonally upwards until the gap 27 of the rod 2st becomes engaged by the disc 39 and holds the element against further upward movement.

The restoration of the signalling element to normal or retracted position is the same in all cases, and simply requires the cord 28 to be tensioned and drawn to the left to swing the plate 31 about its hinge pin 32 by drawing the guide 30 to one side. The plate in swinging away from the flanged cover 33 draws the shaft 34 outwardly against the action of the spring 37 and removes the disc 39 from the gap in the rod 24, thus allowing the spring 25 to withdraw the rod 24 and the signalling element to the right as the tension on the cord 28 is slackened.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A direction indicator for motor cars comprising a guide, a signalling element normally housed in the guide consisting of a carrier pivotally supporting a display member, a cord operatively connected to the display member capable of moving the signalling element into display position beyond the guide, a member for limiting the outward movement of the carrier and the display member Whereby on the tensioning of the cord the carrier will be brought to rest and the display memher will be upwardly inclined and for retaining the member in adjusted position, spring means for withdrawing the signalling element into normal position, and means as the cord is drawn to one side for releasing the signalling element and permitting it to be withdrawn into normal position.

2. A direction indicator for motor cars comprising a guide, a signalling element normally housed in the guide consisting of a carrier pivotally supporting a display member, a cord for moving the signalling element to project the display member beyond the guide and for selectively moving said member about its pivot, separate means for controlling the pivotal movement of the display member adapted to be set prior to the outward movement of the signalling element, and means -for returning the signalling element to normal position within the guide.

3. A direction indicator for motor cars comprising a guide, a signalling element normally housed within the guide consisting of a carrier pivotally supporting a display member and a rod connected to said display memof January, 1931.

IVER JDHNSON. 

